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11 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />COMMENTS REGARDING THE <br />DRAFT 2004 -2010 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM <br />As a member of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning <br />Organization, Orange County will continue to work with the Transportation <br />Advisory Committee (DCHC TAC) to develop a complete list of project priorities <br />for the portion of Orange County that lies inside the urbanized area boundary. <br />However, there are selected projects in Orange County that we would like to <br />address now because they have been the subjects of discussions between the <br />TAC and the Department of Transportation or because there are other special <br />concerns. <br />REQUESTED PROJECTS <br />1) U-3808, Elizabeth Brady Road Extension: Construct a not more than <br />three-lane facility with bicycle and pedestrian amenities, connecting US 70 <br />Business and US 70 Bypass on an alignment that has least impact on the <br />Eno River, the natural environment and cultural sites. This project creates <br />a parallel .route to the highly congested Churton Street corridor (NC 86 & <br />US 70 Business). This route will be used to re-route heavy truck and <br />through traffic out of the downtown/historic district. <br />An Economic Development District (EDD) Transportation Work Group <br />made up of Orange County and Town of Hillsborough elected officials, <br />planning staff, developers and community groups was established to <br />address transportation issues regarding the Hillsborough area EDD. That <br />group's recommendations and comments regarding this project are also <br />attached for consideration in planning and design of this project. <br />2) NC 86, Bicycle Lanes: Construct bicycle lanes (4-foot paved shoulders) <br />from Chapel Hill (Whitfield Road) to Hillsborough (US 70 Business). This <br />project will extend bicycle lanes on Airport Road (NC86) in Chapel Hill to <br />US 70 Business in Hillsborough. Bicycle lanes have recently been <br />completed along NC 86 from UNC to Whitfield Road (SR 1731) in Orange <br />County. NC 86 from Chapel Hill to Hillsborough is experiencing increasing <br />numbers of bicyclists using this route and there are also two schools along <br />this route. This route is listed as priority I of the primary bicycle routes <br />proposed in the Orange County Bicycle Transportation Plan adopted April <br />6, 1999. This project is listed in the 2002-2008 TIP as an incidental <br />bicycle need. Orange County requests that bicycle lanes be constructed <br />as an independent project, and, if necessary, programmed in phases. <br />3) R-2825, Improvements to South Churton Street: Develop congestion <br />management, limited access, aesthetic and capacity improvements <br />between US 70 Business and Interstate 40. The portion between <br />Interstates 40 and 85 will conform to the design criteria of the Economic <br />